Upper Story Living

Upper Story Living:  The transformed life of a person of saving faith (Not just faith – a belief in God and/or Jesus and/or Heaven; but a faith in the payment of Jesus on the cross for personal sin that caused a confession and repentance and an asking for His forgiveness and His new life).  That faith brings about an Upper Story life of new air, direction, hopes, values and friends – with a staircase to the lower level.

For secularists and humanists – those not saved – they reject the legitimacy of an Upper Story.  It is make-believe or mythology of weak people, so there is definitely no staircase.

For the Christian in the Upper Story with a staircase, there is a connection to the temporal and to science.  To the pagan – the non-believer with no staircase – there is no faith, only science.  For them, what science says is final, what the CDC says is law, and the Christian is weak mentally and not worthy of a voice at the table. 

For the Upper Story dweller, don’t linger at the top of the stairs wishing to be in the lower level, hoping for smells from the lower level or wanting a voice from the lower lever.  Numbers 11:5, We remember the fish which we ate freely in Egypt, the cucumbers, the melons, the leeks, the onions, and the garlic.  For such a longing, God was not happy!  (Numbers 11:10, …and the anger of the LORD was greatly aroused; Moses also was displeased.)  Rather, the mind and bent is upward.  I Corinthians 6:20, For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.  The believer has been given a rent free/utility free Upper Story dwelling complete with marvelous amenities, so why would any linger near the stairs or long for the lower level?  Why?

People who are truly saved are changed people – they are Upper Story people!  Their focus, love, and listening is upward focused.  They are to be and to live differently!  Some exhortations: 

II Corinthians 6:17, Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord.

I Peter 1:13-16, Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient child-ren, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”

Romans 6:1-4, What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?  Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?  Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?  Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:22-23, But now having been set free from sin, and having become slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Ephesians 5:8, For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.

I Thessalonians 5:5, You are all sons of light and sons of the day.

I Peter 4:2-3, That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God. For we have spent enough of our past lifetime in doing the will of the Gentiles.

So Upper Story people are upward focused. While the lower level is there and plays a role in their lives – science, history, government, work, events, etc. – their focus is vertical.